Parks Commission Minutes 01-15-1998
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, January 15, 1998.4:30 p.m.
Members Present: Larry Nolan, Fran Fair, Earl Smith, Rick Traver
Stair Present: Steve Grittman, Dan Sjordahl, Wanda Kraemer
1. Call meetine- to order.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nolan.
2. Consideration of annrovine- the minutes for the meetin~ on
December 18. 1997.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY EARL SMITH TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE
DECEMBER 18, 1997 MEETING. SECONDED BY FRAN FAIR. Motion passed
unanimously.
3. Add items.
A. Discussion on pathway along Hwy. 25/Chelsea Road Project.
B. Irrigation in river parks
c.
Islands across from Bridge Park
4. Interviews for parks commission ap,plicants.
Jennifer Fearing and Roy Popilek were interviewed for the vacancy on the Parks
Commission. After interviewing and discussing each candidate, FRAN FAIR
MADE A MOTION TO SELECT JENNIFER FEARING TO FILL THE VACANCY,
SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER. Motion passed unanimously.
5. Discussion on the Comprehensive Park Plan.
Dan Sjordahl and Steve Grittman, City Planners, divided the city into sections and
discussed each area. Sjordahl explained that each area was reviewed for
neighborhood parks, access ability to community play fields, safety of crossing areas,
future park location needs, and pathway connections.
The Commission did discuss the safety of crossing areas in depth. The intersections
of main concerns were as follows: Highway 25/River Street, School
BoulevardlFallon, School Boulevard/County Road 117, West Broadway/Prairie
Road.
Sjordahl explained there are two large field complexes at NSP and the new High
School. Sjordahl would suggest another large ball field in the southwest area
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Parks Commission Minutes - 1/15/98
(south of the intersection of Hwy. 25 and Oakwood Drive).
Bridge Park will be a main focus area for tbis year and in the future. The
Commission directed the City Planner to continue with the design for tbis park
which would include the specific items from the past subcommittee meetings.
6.
Discussion on adopt-a-park euidelines.
Wanda Kraemer, Development Services Technician, reviewed the guidelines for
adopting parks, pathway, and/or public areas in the city limits with the
Commissioners. Kraemer would revise the draft for the next meeting.
7. Discussion on user fees for the parks.
Earl Smith and Fran Fair reported on the suggested changes made by the
subcommittee. The sub-committee's recommendation was to charge for the use of
all buildings and shelters in the parks. This was recommended because of the
increased use causing a need for sprinkler systems and increased maintenance
8.
Discussion on bude-et items for 1998.
Pathway Bids - Chairman Larry Nolan requested the pathway segments in this
year's budget be bid in February or March. Nolan requested City staff to contact
John Bondhus regarding the pathway because of his office in this area.
9.
Consideration of snhmittin~ a LCMR Grant Proposal. Discuss ~ant application
ideas. (Klein Farms. Montissippir ect. )
Wanda Kraemer, Development Services Technician, asked if there were any
preferences or ideas for the LCMR Grant Proposal. Kraemer stated that Jeff
O'Neill, Assistant Administrator, had suggested reviewing Klein Farm Park as a
good example for a LCMR Grant Proposal. The Commissioners were interested in
the grant and suggested staff proceed.
10. Update:
A. Tree planting project - Wanda Kraemer, Development Services Technician,
reported the project was on schedule for April 25, 1998. At the end of
January letters were going to be mailed to organizations, church and school
groups to be returned by March 16, 1998. The parks maintenance crew
would soon be mapping the blocks where trees would be planted. NSP had
"officially" volunteered to dig all the holes for the trees. Tree Trust would be
available for training the volunteers.
B. Community Center - This item was not discussed in detail but would be
added to the next meeting.
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11. Added i terns
A.
Pathway alon~ the Hi~hway 2f5/Chelsea Road Project - Wanda Kraemer,
Development Services Technician, stated that the City Engineer was
requesting a recommendation from the Parks Commission regarding the
pathway along Highway 25/Chelsea Road Project. The project was being
submitted to MnDOT in the near future and direction on the design of the
pathway in this section was needed. The Commissioners discussed the
pedestrian traffic from Kjellbergs Mobile Home Park combined with the
speed and volume of traffic in this area it was decided to recommend
construction of pathway on both sides of Hwy. 25. Also discussed, was the
location of the pathway along Chelsea Road. EARL SMITH MADE A
MOTION TO RECOMMEND CONSTRUCTION OF PATHWAY ON BOTH
THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF HIGHWAY 25 FROM KJELLBERGS
MOBILE HOME PARK TO OAKWOOD DRIVE, THE SOUTH SIDE OF
OAKWOOD DRIVE, AND THE NORTH SIDE OF OAKWOOD DRIVE.
SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER. Motion passed unanimously.
B.
Islands across from East Bride-e Park - Fran Fair inquired if there was a way
the storm damaged trees could be cleared from the islands across from Bridge
Park. Fair stated that the river parks were the main focus for the 1998
budget and the islands across from Bridge Park were in need of attention.
The Commissioner's discussed the possibility of the National Guard assisting
in this project. Wanda Kraemer, DST, would contact Bob Quady, DNR, and
inquire as to any restrictions with the City clearing the island of the fallen
trees.
C. Terracin~ the hrid~e on Hie-hway 25 - Fran Fair requested staff check with
the MNDOT Office for procedure on acquiring permission to change the
landscaping along the bridge. Wanda Kraemer, Development Services
Technician, would call MNDOT to get the information.
12. Adjourn
EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. SECONDED
BY FRAN FAIR. Motion approved.
LJ~ KAM4IWL
Wanda Kraemer
Development Services Technician
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